WOLVES' GALLANT MOVE (From Warrington Guardian)

WOLVES' GALLANT MOVE

AFTER a week of transfer speculation Warrington Wolves made a signing - their long awaited new marketing manager!

And that appointment was revealed on the same day the Wolves announced they would be closing their theme shop in the Cockhedge Centre - with supporters having the chance to cash in on a mega sale tomorrow, Saturday.

Early this week the Wolves were the latest club to be linked to Great Britain back Alan Hunte but Wilderspool chiefs have been playing down their interest.

However, coach Darryl Van de Velde is known to be keen on the international centre's exciting talents as a strike weapon and he is still looking to strengthen his three-quarter line.

Hunte, aged 28, who has not settled at Hull since joining them from St. Helens for the 1998 season, would obviously fit the bill as a prolific try scorer and crowd pleaser. But his £100,000-plus a year current contract with the Sharks could be a stumbling block.

Moves to sign released Sale Rugby Union winger John Devereux have been ruled out but interest in Leeds Rhinos' rising young star centre Gareth Hewitt has been confirmed.

However, the only capture has been that of David Gallant, who will begin work as the Wolves' marketing manager at Wilderspool on Monday.

Gallant is aged 36 and lives in Middlewich, near Northwich. He has previous experience of liaising with sports businesses and the media.

He said this week: "It has always been my long term aim to get involved with sports business full time and this role at the Wolves appealed to me.

"I am sports mad, Warrington is my local club and I am looking forward to getting started.

"The Wolves are a big name in Rugby League, have a tremendous loyal following and there is great potential.

"But a club has to deliever at some point and now the Wolves need to go forward. With all that is now in place at the Wolves I want to be a part of making it go forward.

"We need to be more commercially active without forgetting that the fans are the lifeblood of the club. It is the supporters' club.

"Communication is very important in any business and with a community-based club like Warrington Wolves it is all the more important. I think we can strengthen our communications with the supporters.

"And we need to make things happen rather than wait for them to happen.

"The whole point of all of this is to help the team to perform on the pitch. We all want a winning team."

Chief executive John Smith has explained why the Wolves have decided to shut down their theme shop at the Cockhedge Centre.

He said: "We have been looking at it for a while as we are not making any money there.

"We thought it would be a convenient site for our supporters but it showed over Christmas, when we were selling our season tickets, that it was taking up to two hours for people tio get in and out of the area it was that busy.

"Supporters have indicated it would be so much more convenient for them to pull up at the ground, nip into the office and shop there instead.

"So we've tried it but decided it would be more profitable to run the shop from the ground and from Monday all business will be done from the ground."

A massive sale of stock will take place at the Cockhedge shop tomorrow, Saturday, on its final opening day. Replica shirts will be available from as little as £10.

But yesterday, Thursday

Classy Hunte, who can play full back, centre or winger, has not settled on Humberside since his move from St. Helens in 1997.

Despite having a year to run on his contract at Hull Sharks he has been reported to have come close to deals to join Northampton and Saracens Rugby Union clubs but his £100,000-plus a year contract at the Boulevard has been a sticking point.

Warrington do not have this type of budget for players either and although coach Darryl Van de Velde is known to be keen on the international star the club have been playing down their interest in the 28-year-old Yorkshireman this week.

A spokesman at Hull said yesterday, Thursday: "It seems a different club is being linked with Alan Hunte every week but it seems to be calming down after the link with Warrington in the papers earlier in the week. As far as we are concerned he is training with us and has a year of his contract to run."

Warrington are showing interest in 20-year-old Leeds Rhinos centre Gareth Hewitt. The Scottish international is not in the reckoning for a first team spot at Headingley this year and the player is considering his options.

Warrington have denied reported interested in former Welsh Rugby League and Rugby Union international John Devereux.

One definite signing this week is a new marketing manager.

His name is David Gallant and he will begin work at Wilderspool on Monday.

The Wolves

Hunte has also been linked with a switch to Rugby Union, with either Saracens or Northampton, but the Wolves have come into the frame this week.

Wolves coach Darryl Van de Velde is known to be keen on the 28-year-old Yorkshireman but Hunte would have to be prepared for a considerable drop in wages, probably at least 50 per cent, to fit into the tight budget at Warrington.

Warrington have offered him longer than a one-year deal which is what Hunte finds appealing about a possible move to Wilderspool. He also has a house in the area.

The Wolves want a player who can turn a game with a moment of magic, can score tries out of nothing and can thrill the fans. They see Hunte as fitting the bill.

Hunte made his name at St. Helens after joining them from Wakefield Trinity in March, 1989. He scored 185 tries for Saints in 237 appearances, which included four run outs from the bench.

While at Saints he won his 15 Great Britain caps, the most recent being the three against the Australian Super League national team on their tour to Britain in the autumn of 1997.

Exchange

In his nine seasons at Knowsley Road Hunte played in seven major finals, picking up winners' medals in the Premiership Trophy, the Challenge Cup and the Lancashire Cup. He has a Super League champions' medal from 1996.

Hunte, following personal problems with Saints, moved to the Boulevard for the 1998 season with Steve Prescott and Simon Booth joining him in exchange for £350,000.

Van de Velde is also interested in a young, up and coming centre at Leeds Rhinos.

The Headingley outfit are planning to ship Gareth Hewitt out to Bramley on loan for the full 1999 season but the Scotland international is eager for under 21s and first team action.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.